Hanging tough

SANDPOINT - Even if prayers for snow ultimately go unanswered, Schweitzer Mountain Resort still plans to reopen again on Friday.

The resort's snowmaking guns are blazing amid the frigid temperatures. If the current weather persists, the resort plans to expand its limited operations to include beginner terrain.

Snowmaking and brush cutting have enabled the resort to run its Basin Express quad chair lift and provide access to the Midway trail the past two weekends.

Schweitzer reports 5 inches on its lower flanks, 12 inches at mid-mountain and 20 inches on upper elevations. The mountain has received 28 inches of snow so far this season, according to the resort's snow report.

The National Weather Service in Spokane reports that cold and dry conditions will persist for the first half of the week as an arctic air mass becomes further established over the region. But starting late Wednesday, a surge of Pacific moisture will initially bring snow and mixed precipitation, which will be followed by a gradual transition to valley rain and mountain snow.

This active weather pattern is expected to last through Saturday. On Sunday, a break will envelop the region with one more weak storm system on Monday, according to the National Weather Service.

Warmer temperatures last week did not interfere with Schweitzer's reopening last weekend, but they did jeopardize or wreck planned openings at Lookout Pass and 49 North Mountain Resort and Silver Mountain Resort. Lookout managed to open its slopes on Sunday.